Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — the second part of the reissue of the Japanese role-playing game Final Fantasy VII from 1997 and a direct sequel to VII Remake. Fans of the cult JRPG and newcomers unfamiliar with the series are in for an exciting adventure, spanning nearly a hundred hours, telling the story of Cloud Strife and his friends from the eco-group "Avalanche," who want to stop the mega-corporation "Shinra."

In an effort to convey the spirit and motives of the original, Square Enix took an unusual step — splitting the reincarnation into several separate, large-scale games released at intervals of several years. Each release differed conceptually and genre-wise, introducing new elements and ideas, but the gameplay only improved after VII Remake, where an entirely new system was introduced.

The action still unfolds in an alternate reality, on the planet Gaia, reminiscent of Earth but with its own flora, fauna, and source of life force — the Lifestream, a stream of energy permeating its depths. The "Shinra" corporation discovered a way to extract this power and gained an inexhaustible source of Mako energy, thereby subjugating civilization, society, and nature to its technological might. In a short time, "Shinra" became everything: government, court, and police, binding the inhabitants with chains of strict control.

Players first experienced the updated dystopia of the "seventh" in VII Remake, in the vast megapolis of Midgar. Its grim lowland areas with the poor suffocated under the weight of the elite's luxurious quarters on the upper tiers. Young activists from "Avalanche" decided to change this: destroy the reactors depleting the Lifestream and killing the planet, so that "Shinra" would weaken and abandon the exploitation of the planet and its communities. But soon they faced the relentless power of the corporation, ready to do anything to protect its monopoly, and the mysterious presence of the antagonist Sephiroth.

In the finale, the opposite happened: "Shinra" used the terrorist attacks as a pretext to strengthen its power, and "Avalanche" in the eyes of the townspeople turned into a threat sowing chaos. Unable to stay in Midgar, the heroes embark on a journey through different regions of Gaia — from vast wastelands to dense forests and the ruins of ancient civilizations — in search of the truth about the Lifestream.

Rebirth introduced many changes to the essence and concept of Final Fantasy VII, which affected the plot, characters, and the state of the world. The key concept became the multiverse, which gave rise to different, albeit similar, events and other possible outcomes. There was no hint of this in the first part — the plot was linear, and the characters followed a single line of struggle against Sephiroth.

The main conflict between nature and technology, outlined in VII Remake, received clear development in Rebirth: the relentless extraction of Mako has irreversible consequences. The Lifestream — a living and intelligent stream of energy — continues to resist exploitation, and this is reflected not only on the planet but also on the heroes' perception of the world.

The dynamics of the game world have also changed. In VII Remake, the emphasis was on the detailed elaboration of Midgar, the symbol of "Shinra's" technological might. In Rebirth, players leave this enclosed world and set off on a long journey through the vast expanses of Gaia. Each location is now an active participant in the narrative, not just a background. Ruined natural areas, dead cities, and past secrets become part of the story, delving into the theme of the planet's global degradation.

The structure and plot of VII Remake focused on the heroes' internal struggle with the corporation and their personal dramas. In Rebirth, Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and Aerith are not just fighting "Shinra." They realize they are changing the course of history. Sephiroth, who only revealed himself in Remake as the main threat, acts actively in Rebirth, influencing reality and intervening in the heroes' fates on a new level. The antagonist is driven by a new idea of a global threat.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — a party-based action-RPG from a third-person perspective with active open-world exploration. The combat system remains as dynamic and spectacular as in Remake but has received improved balance and new features. The core of the combat is the well-known Active Time Battle (ATB) system, where regular attacks, blocks, and actions gradually fill various gauges. These, in turn, allow for the use of powerful attacks, spells, or abilities.

But Rebirth's combat combines active action with a pause function for decision-making. And there will be many: winning a battle without studying enemies' vulnerabilities and choosing the right battle strategy will be impossible. Moreover, all more or less serious opponents take little damage. First, they need to be put into a "pressure" state, after which the stagger gauge fills faster. Once it is full, the enemy becomes defenseless, allowing for critical damage.

There are still three characters in the party, and the current build can be formed from nine party members. During battle, you can freely switch between them: while the player controls one hero, the others act independently, following basic commands. The AI of companions has been upgraded; they react more adequately to battle situations. Each hero has their own mechanics: Tifa delivers quick strikes and is most effective against stunned enemies, Red XIII accumulates rage by blocking attacks, Aerith sets magical traps and attacks from a safe distance.

The key innovation is paired attacks. They are activated between two heroes after filling a special gauge, do not consume main energy, and are accompanied by spectacular cutscenes. The visualization of a paired attack and its tactical advantages, such as infinite mana points or enhanced impact on enemies' vulnerabilities, depend on the specific combination of heroes.

Boss fights are challenging and require a deep understanding of game mechanics. Each boss has several phases, transitioning into each other with cutscenes, and no battle will be similar to the next. Some opponents can be defeated by quickly adapting and skillfully managing the party. But most boss fights require a clear sequence of actions: at a certain moment, a specific character, a precise set of skills, or the right item may be needed.The "verticality" of the gameplay has significantly increased; characters have learned to climb hills and use gadgets such as a grappling hook and zipline. This adds elements of an action-adventure game à la Uncharted and creates a sense of more maneuvering space. Additionally, players can now travel not only on land but also by seaplane.

The main storyline focuses on the confrontation with Sephiroth, with grand and dark scenes that set a dramatic tone and a sense of impending disaster. This tension is skillfully alleviated with fan service, where heroes relax on the beach or dance in a bar. The opportunity to see them in informal settings enhances their humanity, making the plot rich and lively.

Throughout the playthrough, you can experience a full range of emotions. The script includes friendship and betrayal, love and hatred, excitement and intrigue, comedy and tragedy, unexpected twists. Only those who know Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, and VII Remake by heart will be able to appreciate all the nuances.

The characters have become more vivid and emotionally relatable, which is the main strength of Rebirth. The confrontation between Sephiroth and Cloud, where the antagonist manipulates the hero's weaknesses, gradually destroying his psyche and making him lose touch with reality, will be remembered for a long time. But the other eight heroes are not just companions; they are self-sufficient, complex personalities with their own backstories, goals, strengths, and weaknesses.

Communication is implemented through conversations in cutscenes and dialogues. The writers have given meaning to all dialogues, the text is meticulously written, making the information useful, the humor appropriate, and the drama tear-jerking. The chatter easily captures attention, and you won't want to skip it.

The world of FF VII Rebirth is divided into seven large regions that the player visits as the story progresses. The biomes are diverse: from pastoral villages and harsh steppes to jungles and post-apocalyptic industrial zones.

The designers have created a visually diverse world with its own style, each corner filled with detailed elements. Instead of the original's conditional textures, there are full-sized three-dimensional objects: mines have turned into multi-level caves, swamps into ecosystems with unique flora and fauna. However, the world remains static: there is no life simulation, no change of time of day and weather, no destructible objects.

Similar to modern open-world games, the regions are filled with towers that need to be hacked before exploration, numerous points of interest, puzzles and riddles, crafting resources, Chocobo activities, bases with unique enemies. Each area has its own side quests and interactions, often supplemented with stories and details that bring the events to life. Nevertheless, Rebirth strongly resembles a "typical Ubisoft open-world." Capturing towers for the sake of capturing, collecting for the sake of collecting, combat challenges, mini-games, and other template activities that will take more time than the main storyline.

Playing through Rebirth conveys the atmosphere of a warm Japanese anime about the struggle between good and evil in the format of a fairy-tale road movie. Despite some blurring of the main story due to the encroaching multiverse and abundance of activities, the game effortlessly captures the attention of both adventure game fans and JRPG enthusiasts.

One of the main elements of the single-player experience is party development. Characters gain experience points for completing missions, defeating bosses, and key actions, allowing them to upgrade their skills. As before, Materia—special stones that grant new abilities and magic, increase health—allows for customizing characters for different play styles and adapting to specific enemy vulnerabilities, enhancing the tactical element of combat.

Unique skills for each hero are added through the Folio skill tree, and they can be rearranged for specific tasks, providing great flexibility in creating team builds. Weapons can also be upgraded using special spheres that enhance their characteristics: for example, increasing damage or providing protection against specific types of attacks. These upgrades can be adapted to the player's style, creating optimal team builds and adding more tactical flexibility.

The musical accompaniment of FF VII Rebirth is not only worthy of being in every player's playlist but also creates an atmosphere that enhances the emotional perception of scenes. The soundtrack includes both new compositions and updated versions of classic themes, giving familiar melodies a new sound.